Sweep rake



Sept. 13, 1938. T. H. SHELTON 2,130,292

SWEEP RAKE I Filed March 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Sept. 13, 1938.

T. H. SHELTON SWEEP RAKE Filed March 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N a: m W 2 N\ o A G m m Qu a %N 7 Ma: 0 .m wh \xm ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWEEP RAKE Thomas Harold Shelton, Eugene, Oreg.

Application March 15, 1937, Serial No. 131,071

1 Claim. (01. 56-27) I This invention relates to sweep rakes of the tion thereby decreasing the width of the rake wheel type and has for the primary object the head so that the latter may move through comprovision of a device of this character which may paratively small spaces. be easily and quickly coupled to a tractor or The sections 4 and of the members 3 are 5 similar device for propulsion in advance of the connected by hinges l and the sections 5 have 5 latter and which may be caused to assume either secured thereto brackets 8 having upstanding raking or load-carrying positions with minimum apertured portions 9. The brackets 8 extend uneffort on the part of the operator. der the sections 4 to prevent said sections from Another object of this invention is the proswinging downwardly below a plane of the secv v vision of means which will permit sections of the tions 5. Bolts ID are passed through the aper- U rake to be readily folded to decrease the width tured extensions 9 and overlie the sections 4 to of the rake so that it may pass easily through a prevent Said Sect ons 4 frOm Swin i g upwardly gateway. relative to the sections 5. To fold the rake head With these and oth objects in view, this it is only necessary to remove the bolts I0 and invention consists in certain novel features of swing the sections 4 upwardly bringing certain construction, combination and arrangement of sections of the railing in contact with the teeth parts to be hereinafter more fully described and connected with the sections 5 of the members 3,

claimed. as shown in Figure 5.

For a complete understanding of my invention, A oup n frame H s hinged to the re end reference is to be had to the following descripof the rake head, as shown at l2, and is of sub- 20 tion and accompanying drawings, in which, stantially triangular shape, the apex thereof be- Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating a sweep ing provided with a coupling device l3 so that rake constructed in accordance with my inventhe coupling frame may be readily attached totion. the forward end of a tractor or similar device so Figure 2isaside elevation illustrating the same. that the rake head may be caused to travel in 25 Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line advance of the tractor. 3-3 of Figure 1. A member I4 is secured to certain of the teeth Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation illusand is located between the members 3 and has trating a rake in non-raking position. secured thereto an axle IS on which ground Figure 5 is a fragmentary end view, partly in Wheels I6 are journaled. A shaft I1 is journaled 30 section, showing the rake folded. on one of the members 3- and is connected to Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view one of the ground wheels l6 by means of an endshowing means for holding the sections of the less chain so that rotation of the ground wheel rake in extended position. will rotate the shaft H. The coupling frame 3 Figure 7 is a perspective view of a bracket. II has journaled thereon a shaft l8 to which is Figure 8 is a detail sectional view illustrating secured a crank [9. a clutch mechanism. A sprocket gear 20 is journaled on the shaft l 8 Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line and is connected to a sprocket gear secured to 99 of Figure 8. the shaft IT by a sprocket chain. The sprocket Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line ear 0 has internal teeth 2|. 40 Ill-l ll of Figure 8. A disc 22 is secured to the shaft I8 and has op- Referring in detail to the drawings, the nupositely arranged notches 23 and also has jourmeral l indicates the rake head composed of a naled thereto shafts 24. The shafts 24 have seplurality of relatively spaced teeth 2 connected cured thereto dogs 25 adapted to move into enby cross members 3 each consisting of end and gagement with the internal teeth 2| of the sprock- 45 intermediate sections 4 and 5. The rake head I et gear. Arms 26 are secured to the shafts 24 also includes a vertically disposed railing 6 seand are connected by a link 27 to cause said arms cured to one of the members 3 and acting as an to move in unison. The arms are spring pressed, abutment for the hay to back against when taken as shown at 28, to position said arms over the up by the teeth. The railing 6 is composed of notches 23. A control lever 29is pivotally mount- 50 sections corresponding to the sections of the ed to the frame II, as shown at 30, and carries a member 3 to which it is connected. The secroller 3| opposite the disc 22. The roller is capable tions of the railing are detachably connected so of entering either of the notches 23. The lever 29 that the end sections of the members 3 may be is urged into one position by a spring 32 or, in

v folded in the direction of the intermediate secother words, the spring acts to position the lever 55 29 so that the roller 3| will enter either of the notches depending on which notch is opposite the roller. The roller entering the notch engages the arm adjacent thereto causing the Shafts 24 to be rotated and thereby swing the dogs 25 out of engagement with the teeth 2| freeing the sprocket gear from the shaft [8 so that said sprocket gear may rotate without influencing the shaft l8. A rope or cable 29a is attached to the end of the lever 29 and leads to the tractor to which the coupling frame is attached whereby the lever 29 may be actuated from the tractor.

Flexible elements 33 are connected to the crank 19 and to the frame I I and also pass over pulleys 34 secured to the railing of the rake head. The crank when in one position will lower the teeth into raking position and the crank when ina second position will elevate the teeth, as shown in Figure 4, for the purpose of carrying on the teeth the hay gathered by the teeth when inraking position. The different positions of the crank are indicated in Figure 4 and the crank is held in these different positions by the roller 3i engaging in one or the other of the notches 23. To move the crank from one position to the other, the lever 29 is swung on its pivot to move the roller 3| out of the notch occupied thereby which connects the sprocket gear 2|! to the shaft I8 so that the forward movement of the rake will bring about either raising or lowering of the teeth or cause to one of the wheels for rotation thereby, a crank shaft journaled on the coupling frame, means connecting the crank shaft to the rake head for raising and lowering the teeth thereof, and a clutch mechanism connecting the crank shaft to the power shaft and comprising a sprocket gear having ratchet teeth and rotatably mounted on said crank shaft, a disc fixed on said crank shaft, pawls pivoted on said disc for engagement with said ratchet teeth whereby to connect said sprocket gear to said disc for rotation with said crank shaft, and a control lever pivoted on said coupling frame and adapted to coact with said disc for moving said pawls into and out of engagement with said ratchet teeth whereby to secure said crank shaft in one of two positions for supporting the rake teeth in raking position or in loadcarrying position.

THOS. H. SHELTON. 

